3 PC's: Free upgrade using ISO?

I have upgraded 2 laptops and 2 desktops from ISO dvd downloaded from Microsoft MCT. Upgrades were 1x windows 8.1 home x64, 1x windows 7 ultimate x64, 1x windows 8.1 pro x64, and 1x windows 7 ultimate x86. I downloaded 3 ISO'S and installed from them, and all 4 systems upgraded for free and are activated automatically over the internet. Hope this helps.

mvito said:

I have upgraded 2 laptops and 2 desktops from ISO dvd downloaded from Microsoft MCT. Upgrades were 1x windows 8.1 home x64, 1x windows 7 ultimate x64, 1x windows 8.1 pro x64, and 1x windows 7 ultimate x86. I downloaded 3 ISO'S and installed from them, and all 4 systems upgraded for free and are activated automatically over the internet. Hope this helps.

Thank you mvito! That's the answer I've been looking for. I presume both your 7 Ult and 8.1 Pro x64 installs could be updated using the same Win 10 Pro x64 ISO, correct? Did you do the clean install "Keep nothing" option on the initial upgrade, or did you keep your installed programs?

kaborka said:

Thank you mvito! That's the answer I've been looking for. I presume both your 7 Ult and 8.1 Pro x64 installs could be updated using the same Win 10 Pro x64 ISO, correct? Did you do the clean install "Keep nothing" option on the initial upgrade, or did you keep your installed programs?

You must keep your data and programs for the upgrade to activate. Once you get an activated upgrade on that computer you can then clean install, on that computer.

NavyLCDR said:

You must keep your data and programs for the upgrade to activate. Once you get an activated upgrade on that computer you can then clean install, on that computer.

That's OK. I don't mind doing the "dirty" upgrade first, just as long as I can use the same ISO for the initial upgrade and later for the clean install.
Thanks to all who answered.

kaborka said:

I'd like to get definitive answers, with links to MS documentation:

1. Is the ONLY way to get the free upgrade either by GWX or MCT"Upgrade this PC"?
2. The ISO produced by MCT"Create media" option cannot be used for the initial free upgrade. True or false? If false, please provide link.
3. The ISO produced by MCT is version-specific: Home OR Pro, not both, Full OR "N", not both. True or false? links?

My three machines are Ult N, Pro N, and "8.1 with Bing", all x64.
Thanks.

Links to Microsoft documentation? Good luck with that.

I upgraded both my desktops using an .iso downloaded using the Media Creation Tool. As they were Windows 8.1 machines, I was able to mount the .iso directly and run the upgrade from the virtual DVD. (Win 7 has no built in means of mounting an .iso, so you'd need to install a freeware utility to do that, extract the .iso with a utility like 7Zip, or make installation media. If you make an installation device, DO NOT boot from it to run the upgrade. Run from your old Window OS.) I believe that you can also get the .isos from here:

[Tech Bench

I know from personal experience that if you wish to upgrade a qualified OS with the free upgrade, the versions must match (home to home, pro to pro). It's a bit more detailed than that:

Microsoft has announced the upgrade matrix for Windows 10

From MCT, you can specify an installer that can update both 32 and 64 bit versions. That won't fit on a single-layer DVD. And, you don't need it.

I don't know, but I assume that since separate downloads are available for the N versions, they are necessary. (I don't know if you can install a non-N upgrade over an N OS that had the separate Media Pack - or whatever it's called- installed to bring it up to the US version.)

There's no mention of 8.1 with Bing in the upgrade matrix. (Perhaps because, if memory serves, it was not for sale in the US.) I think it's equivalent to 7 Starter, and it may upgrade to 10 Home.

I suggest getting the Pro N X64 for the Ult N and Pro N machines. I'm not sure which .iso you'd need for 8.1 with Bing, but it'd be Home N X64 or Home X64. (I'm betting on the N.)

According to this:
How to Determine Your Free Windows 10 Upgrade Version

Windows with Bing gets Windows 10 Home. Don't know if it is the N version or not.

Did you do the clean install "Keep nothing" option on the initial upgrade, or did you keep your installed programs?

Do the UPGRADE first and then the CLEAN INSTALL.
(Make sure the UPGRADE is activated.)

The same CD/USB will work for both.
(Check 'format this drive' on the CLEAN INSTALL only.
Don't bother with the activation number for either process.)